The Israeli health ministry has issued guidelines for hospitals that are set to receive the hostages returned by Hamas as part of the ceasefire deal.
A Red Cross team will transfer the hostages to Egypt before they are handed over to the Israel Defence Forces (IDF). The military has set up three facilities near the Gaza border at Erez Crossing, Kerem Shalon Crossing and Re'im Base. Besides doctors, psychologists and mental health officers will meet the hostages first.
Once the hostages are taken to the hospitals, the immediate families will be able to meet their loved ones.
Several hostages are feared to have developed life-threatening complications as they have been held in Gaza for more than a year. Doctors believe that these hostages will need longer and complex health interventions compared to 105 released in November 2023.
⭕The IDF is continuing to operate and strike terrorist targets in Gaza.
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) January 19, 2025
A short while ago, IDF artillery and aircraft struck a number of terrorist targets in northern and central Gaza.
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One of the complex challenges the hostages are likely to develop is "refeeding syndrome" wherein the patients who are deprived of food and nutrients for a long time could undergo complications when reintroduced to healthy food.
Another complication that they could suffer is speech disability if they are kept in isolation for long. These hostages will require speech therapy. In order to speed up their recovery, the lighting in the hospitals will be altered and the number of people interacting with them will be restricted. If the hostages are uncomfortable returning to their homes immediately, the ministry of social welfare has suggested providing temporary housing for them.
The guidelines advise that the hostages should be admitted for at least four days. But this could be extended depending on the health condition of the patients.
Another issue is the exposure to pathogens during captivity. All hostages will undergo tests for sexually transmitted diseases. Women will be given pregnancy tests.
The government has also urged the media and the public to respect the privacy of the hostages and their families.
The first three out of the 33 hostages being returned in the initial phase are expected to be released on Sunday afternoon, followed by four more the following Sunday. Three each will be released in four weeks that follow. On the sixth week, 14 remaining hostages will be handed over.
